Homemade Yeast Doughnuts

Donuts are awesome. If you don’t like donuts, I don’t think we can be friends. (I realized that could be closed minded for someone who doesn’t like pizza to say, but I’m sticking with it). Speaking of donuts, do you spell it donut or doughnut? I think I’ve officially become a Bostonian because when I write the word, I spell it donuts. Thanks a lot Dunkin’.

Now when I said that donuts are awesome, that comes with some caveats. Some donuts aren’t awesome. I’ve tried my fair share of donuts and definitely have strong preferences when it comes to the sugary treat. In my book, nothing beats a warm freshly glazed yeasted donut. Nothing.

So when I added donuts to my 30-while-30 list, I couldn’t wait to make them and mark it off the list. The whole process took a couple hours and I don’t usually fry things, but the time and effort was definitely worth it. I took these to share with friends and they were a huge success.

Hubby was the one who had the idea to dip the donut holes into a cinnamon/sugar mixture instead of glazing them. He’s so smart. I really couldn’t decide which I liked better. The warm glazed donuts were an obvious front runner, but those little cinnamon/sugar bites gave the donuts a run for their money.

In the end, all of the donuts and holes were consumed in no time flat. I threw them in a little box with a window to transport them because it reminded me of a box you might buy donuts in.

Melt butter in separate bowl until butter is almost melted. Stir to finish melting so butter won’t be overly hot.

Add beaten eggs to melted butter, stirring constantly to make sure the butter’s not too hot for the eggs.

Add the egg/butter mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook.

With the mixer on 3 or medium-low speed, pour in the yeast mixture and salt.

Allow the dough hook to stir this mixture for a couple of minutes, making sure it’s thoroughly combined.

With the mixer still going, add helpings of the flour mixture in 1/4 to 1/2 cup increments until all the flour is gone.

Stop the mixer, scrape the bowl, then turn the mixer on the same speed for five whole minutes.

After five minutes, stop the mixer and scrape the bottom of the bowl.

Turn on the mixer for 30 seconds.

Turn off the mixer and allow the dough to sit in the bowl undisturbed for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl. Toss the dough to coat, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place straight in the fridge.

Refrigerate dough for at least 8 hours, or overnight.

To Make the Doughnuts
Remove bowl from fridge and turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface.

Roll out to 1/4 to 1/3-inch thickness.

Using a 3-inch cutter, cut as many rounds as you can, then roll out remaining dough and cut as much as you can, etc.

Cut holes out of each round using a 1 1/2-inch cutter.

Place both doughnuts and holes on a floured baking sheet.

Cover with large tea towel and place in a warm place in your kitchen; my kitchen is very drafty, so I have to briefly warm the griddle, then turn it off and set the sheets on top to keep warm.

Allow doughnuts to rise undisturbed for at least 1 hour; 1 hour 15 minutes if necessary. Doughuts should be visibly puffier and appear to be airy.

To Fry the Dougnuts
Heat plenty of canola oil in a large pot until the temperature reaches 375 to 380 degrees—do not let it get hotter than 380 degrees! 375 is ideal; keep the thermometer in the pan to continually monitor.

One to two at a time, gently grab doughnuts and ease them into the hot oil. Allow them to cook 1 minute on each side; they will brown very quickly.

Remove doughnuts from the oil with a slotted spoon, allowing all oil to drip off.

Place doughnut immediately on several layers of paper towels. Count to five, then flip it over onto a clean part of the paper towels.

Count to five, then flip it over again; the purpose, obviously, is to drain as much grease as possible before it soaks into the doughnut.

Repeat with remaining doughnuts and holes. The holes will cook more quickly than the doughnuts; about 30 seconds per side.

Allow doughnuts to slightly cool.

To Glaze
Mix all glaze ingredients in a bowl until completely smooth.

One by one, dip doughnuts into the glaze until halfway submerged. (Note: completely submerge doughnut holes, then remove with slotted spoon.)

Remove from glaze, then turn right side up on a cooling rack over a cookie sheet (to catch dripping glaze.)

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I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. (more)

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